Program-clock.



No. 628,678. Patented luly ll, I899. E. H. SCHILD.

PROGRAM CLOCK.

(Application filed Aug. 6, 1898.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT Orricia ED\VARD ll. SOHILD, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 'TO HENRY OASTELBERG, OF SAME PLACE.

PROGRAM-CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,678, dated July 11,1899. Application filed August 6, 1898, Serial No. 687,970. (No model.)

1.0 (DZ/Z LI/71.0711, it may concern.-

Be it known that l, EDWARD H. SOI-IILD, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at the city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Reminders and otherAttachments for Clocks, of which the following is a specification,reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings, forming partthereof.

This invention is designed mainly to provide a simple and reliableattachment to clocks that will enable the owner or user to remindhimself of engagements or appointments he desires to make or keep atintervals during the day, the mechanism being automatic in its actionafter the keys are once set, as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a face view of a clock provided with myattachment. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof; Fig. 3, a perspectiveView detached, and Fig. 4: a side elevation, of the rotary membercarrying the tripping mechansim; Fig. 5,a perspective view of a modifiedform of the tripping mechanism; Fig. ,6, a detail view of a part of themodi- "lied tripping device, showing also a spring for holding thetime-rods frictionally against endwise movement.

The attachment consists, essentially, of two members, one beingstationary and the other rotary. The stationary member consists,essentially, of two plates a, separated a suit: able distance andfastened rigidly to the clockcasing, over the dial-opening thereof. Theouter plate has formed on or attached to it the usual dial 1), andoutside of this dial is arranged a circular series of time-rods c, whichpass through the two plates a and project beyond the rear plate and areendwise movable,

suitable springs, as at (Z in Fig. 6, being attached to one of theplates for the purpose of frictionally holding the rods in theiradjusted positions. The time-rods are arranged with respect to thetime-divisions on the dial, the arrangement in the drawings showing eachhour divided into four divisions of fifteen minutes each.

The hour-shaft c of the clock-works passes through the center of theplates or rings ct and is provided with the usual hand.

The

rotary member is attached to the hour-shaft in close proximity to therear face of the rear plate a; and it consists of a plate f, attachedrigidlyto said hour-shaft and extending radially on either side thereof,this plate being substantially parallel with the inner plate 0; and itsends terminating short of the circular series of time-rods. This mainplate f carries a sliding rod or plate 9 upon one of its faces, this rodbeing limited in its longitudinal 6o movement on the main plate by meansof suitable pins and slots 7L and being normally drawn endwise by meansof a suitable spring i, attached at one end to the main plate and at itsother end to said sliding rod 9. This rod g has a beveled nose j, whichnormally projects beyond one end of the main plate f. Carried by thesliding rod 9 is a fiat spring 70, secured at one end to said rod 9 andbeing free at the other end, this free end being provided with alaterally projecting finger Z, suitably rounded or beveled on its upperand lower faces. This spring 7.: is secured to face of rod 9 at a pointon one side of the hour-shaft and extends to a point on the other side,and it will also be noted that the finger Z is slightly raised from theface of rod g. A spring m is fastened to the main plate f near the endopposite the bevel-nose j and extends inward toward the ho ur-shaft, itsfree end being provided with a ring n, which encircles said hour-shaft.The normal tendency of the free end of spring on is to spring toward themain plate, and it is provided at a suitable point midway its ends witha lug 0, which projects laterally and lies in the path of the finger Z,this lug 0 being beveled or rounded similarly to said finger Z. Normallybearing upon the rear face of ring 771.13 the upper end of a latch-lever19, this lever being connected with the door-latch q and being normallyheld in contact with said ring at by a spring '1 or other suitabledevice. Preferably said lever 13 is pivoted at its lower end to theclock-case at a point below the stationary member, and the latch q issimply an 5 angular extension of said lever. The latch q engages a door3 in the front face of the clockcasing, and this door on its inner sideis provided with a spring-clamp t to hold memo- ;randa of engagements,dye. An upward-ex- 10o tending spring r is attached to the bottom of theclock-ease and engaged under a bracket w, carried by the door, so thatthe door will be automatically thrown down when released from latch g.This spring '2: engages a con tact-pin 0:, when the door flies open andcompletes an electric circuit and rings an electric bell y.

The operation of the attachment is as follows: The operator simplypushes in those rods 0 which correspond with the times at whichreminding-signals are desired. Then as the rotary member travels aroundwith the hour-shaft the bevel-nose j of sliding rod g strikes againstsuch of the rods as are set for action and is pushed inward far enoughto pass by said rods, and at each endwise movement of said rod g thetripping and signal devices are operated. To push out the rods andrestore them to position after they have operated the signal devices, Iform or secure on the end of main plate f an obliquely-set cam .2, whichis directly behind the bevel-nose j and is adapted as the plate frotatesto engage the inner ends of the rods that are set and automaticallyreturn them. As rod 9' is forced inward by each set pin or rod theresiliently-supported finger Z rides up over lug o, as shown in Fig. at,and drops down behind or beyond the same. Then as the nosejpasses by thepin it is suddenly projected outward by its spring 2', and upon thisreturn stroke of the rod the finger Z, by reason of the bevelfaces ofthe finger and lug 0, passes under lug 0 and forces rearward the freeend of spring on, the action being quick and sure and serving to releasethe memorandum carrying door and permit it to be thrown down. In orderthat the rod 9 may be quickly projected after it passes the set pin orrod, each rod is preferably beveled off or cut away at one side. i

It is obvious that the spirit of this invention is broad enough topermit numerous changes in construction, and I therefore do not wish tobe confined to the exact construction shown and described. It is alsoobvious that the construction will permit of the use of a greater numberof time-rods if reminders at smaller intervals of time be desired. It isalso obvious that any other suitable signal or alarm mechanism may beemployed, and in cases where a continuous alarm is not desired the noisealone of the dropping of the door may answer as an alarm to draw theattention of the user, and if an audible alarm be notdesired any visualdevice may be used as a reminding-signal. It is therefore plain thatwhere I use the term signal in the claims I mean it to cover anysignaling or reminding devices or mechanism whatsoever. It is alsoobvious that the rotary member may be made to travel on its own axisindependently of that of the hourhand. It may also be geared to themovement so that the revolutions there of are not the same as thehour-hand. For instance, if it be desired to arrange the re minder foratwenty-four-hour system the rotary member may be so geared as torot-ate once in every twenty-four hours. It will also be observed thatthe devices carried by the rotary member for tripping the door may bevaried. I have shown in Figs. 5 and 6 one such modification. In thismodification the lug o is formed on the spring at on the oppo site sideof the hour-shaft instead of at one side edge, and instead of a slidingrod g an angle-lever g is employed, this lever being pivoted on the faceof plate f and having one of its arms normally projected in the path ofthe set'rods by means of a spring Z and having its other arm 7; maderesilient and extended inward toward the hour-shaft and having thefinger Z formed on its inner end, the movement of this angle'lever beingrestricted by a stop it. It will be observed that as the outer arm ofthe lever g is forced inward by the set-rod the pin Z will ride over anddrop behind lug 0, and the instant said outer arm passes the time pin orrod the spring Z will suddenly restore it to,its normal position,causing pin Z to pass under and lift the lug 0, thereby releasing thedoor and exposing the memoranda.

The feature of the memorandadoor is advantageous in that the memorandaare coneealed from view, and the door cannot be opened withoutsoundingan alarm. The user simply slips in his memoranda and closes the door andthen sets the desired keys or pins, and when the alarm reminds him atthe various times he reads the memoranda and again closes the door, tobe again reminded later in case he has set any other keys.

It will be obvious that the apparatus is extremely simple in operation.The user need simply to press in one of the time-rods and the clockmechanism will remind him at the proper time, the rod beingautomatically returned to its place by the cam shown and the alarmcontinuing to ring until the door is closed. Thus if the user be not athand when the alarm is first sounded the bell will continue to ring tillhe comes and closes the door.

It will be seen that the reminder or signal devices are tripped by thereleasing of the movable part (part 9 in Fig. 3 and part 9 in Fig. 5)carried by the rotary nmmber-that is to say, the door-latch is lifted bythe release of said movable part from the time-rod by its engagementtherewith. This is advantageous by reason of the obvious fact that themoment of lifting the latch (or releasing other reminding or signaldevices) can be more accurately fixed than it said latch were liftedduring the actual engage ment of said movable part with the set timered. It is essential, therefore, that the movable part be returned toits normal position with sufficient force to actuate the door-latch orother signal-operating devices. It will be seen that the movable partwill be released with sutiicient accuracy (if the flattened surfaces onthe rods are set at the proper angle) even though the time-rods may notbe exactly equidistant from the center of the circle. This would not bethe case if the latch were lifted by the engagement of the movable partwith the rod. It is therefore obvious that the opening of the door orthe operating of any other signal device can be done with suflicientaccuracy without undue ac- 'curacy of construction, and this isimportant,

as great accuracy of construction is a drawback to mechanisms of thissort. If the reminding devices were tripped by the direct engagement ofthe movable part with the rods and the spring actuating the movable partwere used simply to return said part to its normal position, it will beobserved that when the movable part came in contact with the rod andbegan to move it would slowly and gradually raise the door-latch untilit reached a point high enough to release the door. Now, unlesseverything works to a great nicety, the release would vary with eachrod, owing to the varying amount of side shake, irregularities, &c.,which would have to be taken up separately over a movement extending aconsiderable length of time-possibly ten minutes. \Vith my presentconstruction, however, all the looseness or lost motion is taken up inone quick movement, whereby the in accuracydue to the inaccurateconstruction will be reduced to a minimum. It will be observed, further,that by thus operating the door-latch by the release of the trippingdevices the latch will be raised just long and high enough to releasethe door and will then return immediately to its normal position, readyagain.to engage the door when the same is again closed. In fact, I mayuse my attachment in connection with any apparatus wherein it is desiredto perform a manual operation at predetermined times automatically fromthe clock mechanism. For instance, the attachment may be used inconnection with an advertising apparatus in which it is desired toexpose advertisements at predetermined times or in connection withelectric apparatus to cut oil or shunt the current. It is thereforeplain that my invention is not confined to what are ordinarily known assignaling devices.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a clock mechanism, a signal or other attachment,consisting essentiallyot' two members, means for rotating one of themembers, a series of time-rods carried by one of the members and adaptedto be moved into actuating position, signal or other devices and meansfor cooperating with the set time-rods to actuate these devices, and adevice for automatically returning the time- .rods after they haveactuated the signal or other devices.

2. The combination with a clock mechanism, of an attachment, consistingessentially of two members in proximity to each other,

mechanism for rotating one of the members a signal or other mechanism, aseries of timerods carried by one member and adapted to be moved towardthe other member and adapted to operate the signal or other mechanismwhen set, and a cam carried by one of the members and adapted to engagethe rods after they have actuated the signal or other mechanism andrestore them.

In combination with a clock mechanism, of an attachment consistingessentially of two members, means for rotating one of the members, aseries of time-rods carried by one of the members and adapted to bemoved toward the other member, signal or other devices adapted to beoperated by such of the timerods as are set, and a device carried by oneof the members and adapted to engage the time-rods successively andrestore them after they have operated the signal or other devices,

4. In combination with clock mechanism, an attachment, consistingessentially of two members, means for rotating one of the members, aseries of time-rods carried by one of the members and adapted to bemoved toward the other member, signal or other devices and means forcooperating with the set time-rods to actuate these devices, and adevice carried by one of the members for automatically restoring thetime-rods after they have actuated the signal or other devices, thislatter device being brought into action by the rotation of the rotarymember.

5. The combination of a casing,clock mechanism, a memorandum-doormovably connected to the casing and adapted to carry memoranda, an alarmdevice adapted to be operated on the opening of the door, and mechanismoperated by the clock mechanism to automatically release the door atpredetermined times, as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination with clock mechanism, of an attachment consisting oftwo members supported in proximity, mechanism connected to the clockmechanism for rotating one of the members, a circular row of rodscarried by the other member, signal or other mechanism adapted to beoperated at predetermined times, a movable part carried by the rotativemember and movable independently thereof and adapted to successivelycoact with such of said time-rods as are set for action, andpositively-operated devices adapted to coact with said movable part andactuate automatically the mechanism to be operated at predeterminedtimes.

7. The combination with clock mechanism, of an attachment consisting oftwo members supported in proximity, one member being rotated by theclockmechanism, a circular series of rods carried by the stationarymember, signal or other mechanism, a movable part carried by the rotarymember and adapted to successively coact with such of said time-rods asare set for action, said. movable part carrying a resiliently-supportedfinger, a resiliently-supported lug or part adapted to coact with saidfinger, and devices connected to said lug and adapted to actuate thesignal or other mechanism.

8. The combination with clock mechanism, of an attachment consisting oftwo members supported in proximity, one of the members being rotated bythe clock mechanism and the other member being stationary, a series oftime-rods carried by the stationary member, signal or other mechanism, amovable part carried by the rotative memberand movable independentlythereof and adapted to successively coact with such of said time-rods asare set for action, this movable part carrying a resiliently-supportedfinger beveled 011 opposite sides, a spring carried by the retativemember and carrying a lug beveled and adapted to coact with said finger,and devices whereby the action of said lug and linger is made to actuatethe signal or other mechanism.

9. The combination with clock mechanism, of an attachment consisting oftwo members supported in proximity, mechanism connected to the clockmechanism for rotating one of the members, a circular row oftime-rodscarried by the stationary member, a movable part carried by therotative member and movable independently thereof and adapted tosuccessively coaet With such of said time-rods as are set for action,means for spring-actuating said movable part after each engagement witha set time-rod, and actuating devices adapted to be brought into actionby the spring-aetuated release of said movable part, whereby theattaclnnent may be caused to automatically operate signal or otherapparatus at predetermined times.

10. The combination with clock mechanism, of a reminder attachmentconsisting of two members supported in proximity, mechanism connected tothe clock mechanism for rotating one of the members, a circularrow ofrods carried by the other member, signal mechanism, a movable partcarried by the rota-tive member and movable independently thereof andadapted to successively coact directly with such of said time-rods asare set for action, and posiLively-operated devices adapted to coactwith said movable part and actuate the signal mechanism.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature, in the presence oftwo Witnesses, this 25th day of July, 1898.

' EDW. ll. SCIIITJD.

Witnesses:

HARRY W. tonenns, EDWIN II. BROWNLEY.

